Ammo for my M38 & M44

Pred · 09-02-2006, 03:24 PM

I'm thinking of ordering some ammo for my Mosins, and wanted some advice on what to buy. Cheaper Than Dirt has 1980's Polish mfg(150gr FMJ Light Ball, lower recoil ammo) at $59.97 for a 440 round can. AIM's has a decent selection of ammo also(AIM 7.62x54R 7.62x54R). From there I'm thinking about the Hungarian, 147grn light ball 7.62x54R 440rds can for $39.95. Of course they also have an 800 round can of Czech ammo for $69.95, and Brown Bear. I don't know if it would be worth it to spend the money on the Brown Bear stuff or not. I mean I'm looking to just stock up on stuff that will go boom with decent accuracy. More for SHTF and a few trips to the range. What do you all think?

FutureMarine · 09-02-2006, 03:37 PM

brown bear is GREAT stuff. i have used a lot with great results. i also have an 800 round czeh silvertip can in my garage. that is great stuff also. i got my czech from aim. i get excellent results with it at 100 yards

Big Dog · 09-02-2006, 06:47 PM

The Czech Silvertip 147 Grain works for me. Good stuff. I've been looking at that Polish ammo too though.
But there are other calibers I need first.

FutureMarine · 09-02-2006, 08:10 PM

ive fired some polish ammo that i got for free and it is very accurate out of my 91/30 and m44

Pred · 09-02-2006, 09:45 PM

Well, now I'm second guessing what I should get. I've thought about buying a scout mount for one of my Mosins and throwing a scope or red-dot on it as a SHTF rifle. Seems as good as any with the 20" barrel, good power and accuracy, not to mention a fairly light rifle. So I thought I'd stock up on some ammo for it, but now I wonder about just getting the Brown Bear instead. I realize that the 500 rounds of it would cost me over $100, when compared to 880 rounds of surplus would be more like $80. However if I might some day use this rifle as a last resort, I have a feeling I wont have the time to stop and clean it as soon as I'm done. Maybe I just think to much......

FutureMarine · 09-02-2006, 10:51 PM

you'll have to stop and clean it with Brown bear also. any russian made ammo. been there, done that.

.22guy · 09-03-2006, 12:23 AM

I would say get an SKS for a SHTF rifle. Less power but shoots faster.... easier to carry more ammo also.

Pred · 09-03-2006, 08:29 AM

Well, I've already got an SKS, an AK, and a AR for SHTF. Now I want a good bolt action to add to the group also. So I figured I'd throw a scope on one of them and buy up some ammo. Future, I realize I'll have to clean the gun regardless, but the Brown Bear stuff is not corrosive, so if I couldn't clean it for a day or so, I wouldn't ruin the barrel.

troy2000 · 09-03-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pred

Well, I've already got an SKS, an AK, and a AR for SHTF. Now I want a good bolt action to add to the group also. So I figured I'd throw a scope on one of them and buy up some ammo. Future, I realize I'll have to clean the gun regardless, but the Brown Bear stuff is not corrosive, so if I couldn't clean it for a day or so, I wouldn't ruin the barrel.

You can just tip the safe over on anyone who gets too close...

.22guy · 09-03-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pred

Well, I've already got an SKS, an AK, and a AR for SHTF. Now I want a good bolt action to add to the group also. So I figured I'd throw a scope on one of them and buy up some ammo. Future, I realize I'll have to clean the gun regardless, but the Brown Bear stuff is not corrosive, so if I couldn't clean it for a day or so, I wouldn't ruin the barrel.

Oh, OK. Makes sense then to have a good sturdy bolt and a crap load of ammo.

If it was me, I would just buy a thousand or two rounds of mil-surp ammo and call it good. Just take a little and make sure it shoots. Don't want to hit a dud when you're being attacked by the mobs.

FutureMarine · 09-03-2006, 06:36 PM

Pred: on paper the russian stuff( WOLF, and all the bears) are not corrosive. they might as well be. may be less dirty than silvertip but it is still very dirty and you will have to clean

Pred · 09-03-2006, 07:00 PM

But will the barrel rust within 24 hours after using it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I won't still buy some milsurp ammo. I have a bad habbit of buying up stuff just because

troy2000 · 09-03-2006, 07:08 PM

Military forces all over the world used the corrosive stuff for generations without destroying their weapons; I wouldn't get over-panicky about it.

You think those Russian troops in WWII faithfully cleaned their rifles within hours every single time they had a firefight?

FutureMarine · 09-03-2006, 07:23 PM

Russians know how to make guns. For their(WWII tropps) purpose, they just needed it to shoot. for OUR purpose we want it to be purty AND shoot. back to the original question, buy Brown bear if you get a good deal, because ti is very accurate and doenst stick for me much. And also get some silver tip because it didnt stick for me that much either.

Pred · 09-03-2006, 08:20 PM

Well, I wrote Darrel about his scout mount today, so I figure I might get that and put a SPOT red-dot on it. Should make for an interesting trip to the range.

Geo M44 · 09-04-2006, 09:05 PM

I have some Igman on order from AIM, and about 40 rounds of Winchester, and will reload the brass. The varnished Czech is still pretty sticky, so I'm thinking seriously about the Hungarian 147 gr. light ball from AIM.

It looks like the hungarian is unvarnished steel and should pose less of a sticking bolt problem (although pulling the cocking piece back before cycling the bolt works pretty well).

Brass rounds cycle very smoothe. Has anyone used the Hungarian light ball from AIM? Does it cycle smoother than the varnished Czech? And finally, does anyone know if the Hungarian is non-corrosive?

FutureMarine · 09-04-2006, 09:59 PM

the hungarian ius probably corrosive. the czech isnt that bad for the first 10 rds.

Geo M44 · 09-04-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureMarine

the hungarian ius probably corrosive. the czech isnt that bad for the first 10 rds.

Thanks FM. I have been firing the Czech (about 200 rounds so-far) and again if I use the cock-before-cycling method it's not real bad (although not real easy), but I'm thinking the varnish is the culprit (the chamber is very clean).

All of the brass (Winchester and hand re-load) cycles clean-as-a-whistle without having to pre-cock the bolt before cycling. Corrosive ammo is not a problem as I Windex and then clean the bore every outing. This 1947 M44 is ablsoutely primo.

ddhotbot · 09-05-2006, 09:14 AM

i have fired the hungarian,polish and chezc light ball ammo out of my 44.the chezc sticks a little but is accurate.the hung and polish are accurate also,all 3 are steel core which i like.really between the 3 i would go with either the polish or hung just because they dont give me the sticking issue.

Pred · 09-05-2006, 09:56 AM

I think I'll either order myself, or have my wife order me for christmas, a 440 round can of the light ball(polish I think) and a 440 round can of the heavier round(Hungarian I think). It's either that way or switched around, anyways, I'm gonna stock up on some.

09-02-2006, 03:24 PM	#1
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	Ammo for my M38 & M44 I'm thinking of ordering some ammo for my Mosins, and wanted some advice on what to buy. Cheaper Than Dirt has 1980's Polish mfg(150gr FMJ Light Ball, lower recoil ammo) at $59.97 for a 440 round can. AIM's has a decent selection of ammo also(AIM 7.62x54R 7.62x54R). From there I'm thinking about the Hungarian, 147grn light ball 7.62x54R 440rds can for $39.95. Of course they also have an 800 round can of Czech ammo for $69.95, and Brown Bear. I don't know if it would be worth it to spend the money on the Brown Bear stuff or not. I mean I'm looking to just stock up on stuff that will go boom with decent accuracy. More for SHTF and a few trips to the range. What do you all think?

09-02-2006, 03:37 PM	#2
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	brown bear is GREAT stuff. i have used a lot with great results. i also have an 800 round czeh silvertip can in my garage. that is great stuff also. i got my czech from aim. i get excellent results with it at 100 yards __________________ Semper Fi

09-02-2006, 06:47 PM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,205	The Czech Silvertip 147 Grain works for me. Good stuff. I've been looking at that Polish ammo too though. But there are other calibers I need first. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

09-02-2006, 08:10 PM	#4
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	ive fired some polish ammo that i got for free and it is very accurate out of my 91/30 and m44 __________________ Semper Fi

09-02-2006, 10:51 PM	#6
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	you'll have to stop and clean it with Brown bear also. any russian made ammo. been there, done that. __________________ Semper Fi

09-02-2006, 09:45 PM	#5
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	Well, now I'm second guessing what I should get. I've thought about buying a scout mount for one of my Mosins and throwing a scope or red-dot on it as a SHTF rifle. Seems as good as any with the 20" barrel, good power and accuracy, not to mention a fairly light rifle. So I thought I'd stock up on some ammo for it, but now I wonder about just getting the Brown Bear instead. I realize that the 500 rounds of it would cost me over $100, when compared to 880 rounds of surplus would be more like $80. However if I might some day use this rifle as a last resort, I have a feeling I wont have the time to stop and clean it as soon as I'm done. Maybe I just think to much......

09-03-2006, 12:23 AM	#7
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,140	I would say get an SKS for a SHTF rifle. Less power but shoots faster.... easier to carry more ammo also. __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

09-03-2006, 08:29 AM	#8
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	Well, I've already got an SKS, an AK, and a AR for SHTF. Now I want a good bolt action to add to the group also. So I figured I'd throw a scope on one of them and buy up some ammo. Future, I realize I'll have to clean the gun regardless, but the Brown Bear stuff is not corrosive, so if I couldn't clean it for a day or so, I wouldn't ruin the barrel.

09-03-2006, 06:36 PM	#11
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	Pred: on paper the russian stuff( WOLF, and all the bears) are not corrosive. they might as well be. may be less dirty than silvertip but it is still very dirty and you will have to clean __________________ Semper Fi

09-03-2006, 07:00 PM	#12
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	But will the barrel rust within 24 hours after using it? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I won't still buy some milsurp ammo. I have a bad habbit of buying up stuff just because

09-03-2006, 07:08 PM	#13
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,409 Images: 9	Military forces all over the world used the corrosive stuff for generations without destroying their weapons; I wouldn't get over-panicky about it. You think those Russian troops in WWII faithfully cleaned their rifles within hours every single time they had a firefight? __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France

09-03-2006, 07:23 PM	#14
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	Russians know how to make guns. For their(WWII tropps) purpose, they just needed it to shoot. for OUR purpose we want it to be purty AND shoot. back to the original question, buy Brown bear if you get a good deal, because ti is very accurate and doenst stick for me much. And also get some silver tip because it didnt stick for me that much either. __________________ Semper Fi

09-03-2006, 08:20 PM	#15
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	Well, I wrote Darrel about his scout mount today, so I figure I might get that and put a SPOT red-dot on it. Should make for an interesting trip to the range.

09-04-2006, 09:05 PM	#16
Geo M44 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Desert Posts: 2,172	I have some Igman on order from AIM, and about 40 rounds of Winchester, and will reload the brass. The varnished Czech is still pretty sticky, so I'm thinking seriously about the Hungarian 147 gr. light ball from AIM. It looks like the hungarian is unvarnished steel and should pose less of a sticking bolt problem (although pulling the cocking piece back before cycling the bolt works pretty well). Brass rounds cycle very smoothe. Has anyone used the Hungarian light ball from AIM? Does it cycle smoother than the varnished Czech? And finally, does anyone know if the Hungarian is non-corrosive? Last edited by Geo M44; 09-09-2006 at 09:09 AM.

09-04-2006, 09:59 PM	#17
FutureMarine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: PRK Posts: 1,946	the hungarian ius probably corrosive. the czech isnt that bad for the first 10 rds. __________________ Semper Fi

09-05-2006, 09:14 AM	#19
ddhotbot Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8	i have fired the hungarian,polish and chezc light ball ammo out of my 44.the chezc sticks a little but is accurate.the hung and polish are accurate also,all 3 are steel core which i like.really between the 3 i would go with either the polish or hung just because they dont give me the sticking issue.

09-05-2006, 09:56 AM	#20
Pred Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,873 Blog Entries: 3	I think I'll either order myself, or have my wife order me for christmas, a 440 round can of the light ball(polish I think) and a 440 round can of the heavier round(Hungarian I think). It's either that way or switched around, anyways, I'm gonna stock up on some.